Snap push-button switch.



No. 707,622. Patented Aug. 26, |902.

W. J. NEWTON.

SNP PUSH BUTTDN SWITCH.

(Application lad Oct. 17, 1901.) (No Model.)

@f4/venan ITnn STATES PATENT GFFICE.

WILLIAM .L NEWTON, On NEW YORK, N. Y., AssieNon rro OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

FRANK M. DYER,

SNAP PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH.

SPECIFICATIONi'Orming part of Letters Patent No. 707,622, dated August 26, 1902.

Application filed October 17. 1901. Serial No. 79,037. (No model.)

To att 1071/0717/ it ntfty concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. NEWTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at 143 West Fourth street, New York, county of New York, State of-New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snap Push-Button Switches, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to that class of switches in which push-buttons are connect ed to an operating-lever which actuates theA contact-arms of the switch after the buttons place a spring under tension to move the arms quickly at the desired time.

The object of the invention is partly to furnishran improved construction for the locking device which holds the contact arms from movement until the push-buttons have developed the spring-pressure.

The invention also includesfa particular construction for the contact-arms, with segmental Wings constantly in contact with the conducting-springs, and also a special construction for the insulating base and the pnsh-buttons, whereby the switch mechanism may all be constructed very close to the base, and thus occupy less space when inserted in the wall.

The invention also includes other details of construction, which will be understood by the following description and by reference to the drawings, in which- Y Figure l is a side elevation of the switch with the casing in section at the center line.` Fig. 2 is an end view of the same with the casing and push-button in section at the center ot' one ot' the buttons. Fig. 3 is a section, of the post and the parts carried thereby. Fig. l is a longitudinal section of the casing at the center of the binding-posts with one oli' the bindingposls in section and only the con. tact-making parts of the switch illustrated. Fig. 5 shows the under side of the clampblock for the binding-posts. Fig. 6 is a plan ol the switch and its casing complete. Fig. 7 is an end view of one ot the binding-posts. Fig. 8 shows the base of the switch in section at the center of the push-buttons and the Operating mechanism viewed from the plane of the tension-spring, and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the same parts viewed from the opposite end of the spindle and having the contact-arm and itsinsulating-hub removed.

4to receive the insulatingguide-block b to serve as a guide for the two push-buttons c and is a foundation-piece and insulator-base for the switch mechanism. A groove is formed in the outer side of the guide-block to receive the foot d' ofthe postd, which connects all the switch mechanism to the block. 7o

The casing is formed with recesses 0.2 in its four corners to receive binding-posts, and the corners of the guide-bloch are notched to clear such binding-posts. The shanks p of the posts are secured in the bottoms of the recesses d2, and their heads are slotted, as shown in Fig. 7, and formed each with an in inclined grooved scat p' in the bottom, over which a removable grooved gib p2 is inserted and pressed towardthe seat by set-screw p3. 8o

A hole q is extended through the casing from the base of the incline to the back of the casing, and the gib p2 is extended over such hole into contact with the end of the recess, by

which construction each of the conductors q' 85 when pushed into the hole q from the back of the casing-is bent by the inclined surface of the gib and led into the groove 1). Contactsprings f and j" are secured upon four corners of the guide-block adjacent to the cor- 9o ner notches and provided with spring-leaves e to contact with Aspring-leaves e, which are projected from the bindingposts. The guide block is heldin the casing by the face-plate g and is attached to the casing by joint-plates It, which are secured thereto by screws h and have theface-"plate in turn attached to them by screws g. The joint-plates are also provided with holes t' to attach the entire casing and switch to the face of a wall-box.

guide-block can be lifted from the casing with all the switch mechanism by merely unscrew- Fig. l2 is an end view of the insulat- 6o The I oo one end of the arm m by a pivot.

ing the face-plate g and when inserted in the casing is placed in circuit with the conductors q' by the automatic contact of the leaves e e'. The post cl is formed with a central hole or bearing for the spindle j, and the latter is.

provided with insulating-bushings] at its opposite ends, secured by screwsjz. The spindle is shown flattened where the bushings are fitted thereto to prevent them from turning, and the bushings are attened in like manner, as shown in Fig. l2, and the contact-arms 7c are fitted thereto and clamped between a collar upon the bushing and a loose collar k2, fitted between the arm and a shoulder upon the spindle. The contact-platesfand f are sh own separated about forty-five degrees, and the contact-arm 7c is formed with a segmental wing 7c at one side, extending nearly ninety degrees from the arm and adapted to constantly maintain contact with the spring y"y during the normal movements of the arm 7a. The contact-springs are made each with two leaves, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the contact-arm and its wing, especially the latter, lin moving between the leaves rub over the same, and thus preserve clean surfaces. A shoulder is formed at one side of the post by a drum Zand upon the opposite side by a segmental plate Z', which is fitted to turn with the spindle and held thereon by the screw which secures the bushing'j'. The segmental plate is formed wit-h a lug o, which projects over the end of the post, and the latter is formed with two ears or stops cl2 to determine the movement of the arm k to and from the contact-springs f. The arm 7c and springs f are shown in full lines in Fig. 4; but in Fig. 9 these parts are shown in dotted lines to display their relation to the other parts without obscuring the same. An operatinglever m is fitted to turn upon the spindle and formed at one side with an arm having a lateral lng o', which is held normally in line with the lug 0 upon the plate l by the opposite ends of a wire spring s, which is wound several times around the drum Z, as shown in Fig. 2, and the ends extended to theopposite sides ot' the\two lugs, as shown in Fig. 8. The-lug o upon the operating-lever is constantly in contact or engagement with one free end ot the spring, and the lug 0 upon the segmental plate Z is always in constant contact or engagement with the opposite end of the spring, the ends being pushed apart when the lugs are separated, as shown in Fig. l, and tending normally to draw the lugs into line with one another, as shown in Fig. S. The push-buttons are made hollow for more than halt' ot' their length upon the innerend, formingr in each a long chamber ofl sutficient Width for the link to vibrate therein and having a piu c through the upper end of the chamber to form a pivot for the link. One of the links m' is extended into each ot' such chambers and jointed upon the pivot c', and the outer end of the linkis also connected to The spindlej is pivoted in the post CZ very close to the insulating guide-block b, so that the ends of the operating-arm fm move close to or into the sockets through which the push-buttons move when each in turn is protruded. Such position of the operating-arm is shown at the left side of Fig. 8, and the push-buttons are formed with the chambers in their inner ends and the links extended into such chambers, so that the switch mechanism may all be constructed close to the guide-block to permit the use of a Very shallow casing a. The switch thus requires a shallower recess to be formed in the wall where it is placed. The movement of the push-button throws the lug o alternately to one side or the other of the spindle and tends by winding the spring s around itsbarrel to produce a tenison upon the lug 0 of the segmental plate. Stich tension would turn the spindle and shift the contact-arms 7c except the segmental plate were locked until the spring tension was suficient to separate the switch-contacts quickly, and this is eiected by the following construction: The segmental plate Z is formed with a curved slot r, having notches r in its opposite ends, and a locking-plate n is pivoted upon the middle line ofthe post adjacent to the segmental plate and provided with studs n' to engage such notches alternately when the segmental plate is moved into contact alternately with the two lugs d2. A wire spring t is extended partly around the spindlej and bent over two IOD pinst', projected from the segmental plate at equal distances from the notches r, and the opposite ends of the spring are fitted to the adjacent edge of the locking-plate n and operate to tip the opposite ends ot' the lockingplate alternately outward when the spring is moved with the segmental plate. While the segmental plate is moving the springt presses one or the 'other of the studs n/ against the curved surface of the slot r in the segmental plate, and such stud drops into the notch r at the end of such slot when the segmental plate has reached the limit of its movement, as shown in Fig. 9, by the contact of the lug o with the ear d2 upon the post. The segmental plate is thus always locked when shifted to either of its extreme positions and is only released to shift the contact-arm t after the movement of the appropriate push-button 4has considerably bent the spring s. The locking-arm is formed with ends n2, bent past the sides of the post into the path of the operating-lever m, so that the inward movement ot' the appropriate pushbutton brings the operating-lever into contact with one of the bent arms, as shown in Fig. l, and serves to tip the locking-plate suticiently to disengage the stud n' from the notch r'. Prior to such disengagement the movement of the lug o from the lug o places. the spring s under tension, as shown in Fig. 1, 'so that the release of the segmental plate from the stud n permits the spring s, by its action upon the lug o, to instantly reverse IIO the position of the segmental plate, as well as the spindle, with the contact-arms 71:. When the contact-arm is engaged with the contactspring f', as shown in Fig. 4, such reversal breaks the contact instantly and avoids the sparking in the desired manner. When the contact-arm is clear from the springf, the corresponding reversal throws the contactarm into the springf, and thus makes the contact instantaneously, as desired.

From the above description it will be understood that the segmental plate Z is the means for turning the spindle to shift the contact-arms 7c and that the operating-lever m turns loosely upon such spindle while winding up the springs s to quickly shift the contact-arms when the segmental plate is released from the restraint of the lockingstud n.

l am aware that other locking devices have been constructed to eect this object, and I do not therefore claim such a device broadly; but I am not aware that any segmental plate has ever been used with a concentric slot having notches at opposite ends and a locking-plate having studs to engage such notches alternately.

In the present invention the locking-plate n is thrown into its reverse positions by the reversal of the position of the spring t through the agency of the pins t' upon the segmental plate; but such movement of the lockingplate toward a reverse position brings one or the other of the studs n into contact with the curved slot r before the notch a" is reached, and the curve of the slot r is made concentric with the spindle j, so that the wall of the slot may move smoothly over the stud until it drops into the notch. The ends of the operating-lever m operate alternately upon the bent ends n2 of the locking-plate to withdraw the stud n from the notch with which it is engaged, and the opposite stud then operates to engage the notch at the opposite end of the slot fr, so that the relation of all the parts to the push-buttons is reversed after the actuation of each.

I nd it a great advantage to construct all of the mechanism upon the guide-block b and to arrange the latter within the casing so as to make contact by the spring-plates e e', as this permits the casing to be secured in the wall-box and the conductors connected with the binding posts without inserting the switch. Such a removable guide-block has heretofore been employed in connection with a metallic bridge for attaching it to the wallbox and for sustaining the switch mechanism; but in the present invention I find it more convenient to furnish the casing with the joint-plates 7L, by means of which it can be secured to the wall-box with the conductors completely connected to the binding-posts. In my construction the joint-plates h are sunk into notches in the face of the casing and flush with such face, as shown in Fig. 4, so that when the switch is inserted, as shown in Fig. 1, the face-plate g serves by its co'nnec'- tion with the joint-plate (through the screws g) to hold the switch mechanism eectively in place. In like manner by the removal of the face-plate the switch can be drawn out of its casing without disconnecting any of its parts and may thus be repaired or replaced with a duplicate. It is well known that Very great damage is done to switches by the workmen employed in making the electric connections to the wall-boxes, if such switches are attached to the casing, and the removability of the switch from the casing and its adaptability for insertion therein,as described above, therefore obviates a great deal of damage and loss. By mounting the switch mechanism entirely upon the guide block or base and forming the push-buttons hollow upon their inner ends and extending the links upward into the push-buttons I am enabled to bring the operating-lever of the switch very close to the guide-block, so that, in fact, one end of the operating-lever moves into the hole or socket through which one of the push-buttons slides when such push-button is retracted, as is apparent by reference to Fig. 8. The entire switch is thus made very compact, so as to require a small casing, and thus occupies less room in the wall than some other constructions. In the present construction the pushbutton is formed with a cavity in which the links fm can rock, and the links are pivoted to the push-button, so that there is no rigid connection between the two and nothing to guide the push-button or hold it from tipping and jamming fast in the face-plate, and suitable guides are therefore provided by the block b.

The block b maybe made of porcelain,which material does not admit of making smooth and uniform holes to lit the push-buttons,and I therefore bush the holes with brass bushings t, which are shown in Fig. 8, but omitted from the other figures on account of the smallness of the scale. Such bushings fit the pushbuttons snugly and guide them to move in a straight line only, While the arm m and links m/ are free to oscillate.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein isl. In a snap push-button switch having a spindle with contact-arms insulated upon its opposite ends and an operating-lever pivoted to turn upon the spindle, of a locking device for the spindle comprising a segmental plate secured to the spindle and having a curved slot with notches at its opposite ends, a spring placed under tension by the operating-lever to turn the spindle, and a locking-plate pivoted adjacent to the segmental plate and provided with studs to engage the notches alternately, and having its ends projected in line with the ends of the operating-lever to be moved alternately thereby, and thus release the` segmental plate and spindle while under the spring-pressure.

2. In a snap push-botton switch, the com- IOO IIO

bination, with two push-buttons and their guide-block, of a post supported upon such guide-block betweenithe buttons, a spindlev fitted to turn in the post and having contactarms insulated upon its opposite ends, an operating-lever fitted to turn upon the spindle with the push-buttons connected to its ends, and an arm projected from one side of such lever with a lug to engage a spring, a spring wound around the spindle with one of its ends applied to the lug on the arm, a segmental plate attached to the spindle with a curved slot having notches at its opposite ends, and having a lug to engage with the other end of the spring, and a locking-plate pivoted upon the post next the segmental plate and provided with studs to engage the notches alternately, and having its ends projected in line with the ends ofv the operating-level' to be moved alternately thereby.

3. In a snap push-button switch, the combination, with two push-buttons and their guide-block, of a thin post supported upon such guide-block between the buttons, a spindle fitted to turn in the post with contactarms insulated upon its opposite ends, an operating-lever fitted to turn upon the spindle and having the push-buttons connected to its opposite ends, and an arm projected from one side of such lever with a lug to engage a spring, a barrel upon the spindle with aspring wound around the same and one of its ends applied to such lug, a segmental plate attached to the spindle with a curved slot having notches at its opposite ends and a lug to engage one end of the spring, and a lockingplate pivoted upon the post next the segmental plate and provided with studs to engage the notches alternately, and having its ends projected in line with the ends of the operating-lever to be moved alternately thereby.

4. Ina snap push-button switch, the combination, with two push-bottons and their guide-block, of the thin fiat post supported upon such guide-block between thebuttons, the spindlej fitted to turn in the post with insulating-hubs upon its opposite ends and cont-act-arms mounted thereon, the operating-lever m fitted to turn upon the spindle next the post and having the push-bottons connected to its opposite ends, and having the arm upon its outer side with the stud o projected over the spindle, the barrel upon 'the spindle adjacent to such stud with spring s Wound around the same and one end applied to the stud o, the segmental plate l attached to the spindle upon the opposite side of the post and formed with a curved slot having notches at its opposite ends and havinga lug o projected over the end of the post adjacent to the lug 0 and engaged with the opposite end of the spring s, the locking-plate n pivoted upon the post between. the segmental plate and post, the springt extended around the spindle with pins t upon the segmental plate to hold the ends of the spring against the locking-plate, and studs upon the locking-plate to engage the notches of the segmental plate alternately, with the-ends of the locking-plate bent to project past the post in line with the ends of the operating-lever, substantially as herein set forth.

5. In a snap push-button switch, the combination, with two push-buttons, of a guideblock perforated for the movement of the same, a post supported upon the guide-block, the spindlej fitted to turn inthe post with insulating-hubs j upon its opposite ends and contact-arms mounted thereon with eXtension-plates 7a at one side of the same, the contact-springs f supported upon two corners of the block to constantly engage such extension-plates, and the contact-springs f supported upon the opposite corners of the block, and means connected with the push-buttons for turning the spindle to move the contactarms to and from the contact-springs f.

6. In a snap push-button switch, the combination,wit-h two push-buttons,of an insulating guide-block l) perforated for the movement of the same, a post supported upon the guide-block, the spindlejl fitted to turn in the post with insulating-hubs j upon its opposite ends and contact-arms k mounted thereon with segmental wings 7c at one side of each the double spring-contacts f supported upon two corners of the block to constantly engage such segmental wings, the contact-springs f supported upon the opposite corners of the block, means connected with the push-buttons for turning the spindle to move the contact-arms to and from the contact-springs f', spring-plates e' clamped by the feet of the contact-springsfand f at the four corners ot' the block, and a casing et having a recess upon the front to receive the guide-block, and binding-posts in its four corners with springplates e projected therefrom to contact with the spring-plates upon the switch when the switch is inserted in the casing.

7. In a snap push-button switch, the combination, with the guide-block having the switch mechanism mounted wholly thereon, and having spring-contacts with spring-plates e projected therefrom as set forth, of the casing having a cavity upon the front to receive the guide-block, and recesses in'its four corners with passages for the conductor leading thereto,bindingposts secured in such recesses with spring-plates e projected therefrom to contact with the spring-plates upon the switch, such binding-posts having each a grooved seat therein with grooved gib or block fitted over the seat and passage, and into contact with the end of the recess, and a setscrew to press the gib toward the seat to clamp vthe conductor thereon, whereby the conductors may be pushed automatically into the binding-posts from the passages when the set-screws are slackened, substantially as herein set forth.

S. In a snap push-button switch', the combination,with the metallic casing a, having recess ct' adapted to Wholly inclose the switch,

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of the insulating guide-block b forming the base of the switch and fitted detaehably to such recess and having,Y the switch mechanism supported thereon,V the push-buttons o eX- tended through the guide-block and formed each with the chamber extended from its nner end beyond the middle of its length with pivot c across its inner end, the links m eX- tended into the chamber and jointed upon such pivots, and the switch mechanism having an operating-arm attached to the opposite ends of the links, and provided with spindle close to the insulating guide-block, 

